Hamer Guitars

It’s easy to take custom-made “boutique” guitars for granted today because there are so many around, from Carvin to Tom Anderson. However, once upon a time, there was only one custom-shop for electric guitars, and that company was Hamer.

Founded by Paul Hamer and Jol Dantzig in 1973, the company is currently owned by musical giant Fender, purchased in 2007.

As the first “boutique” guitar maker, Hamer made a name for themselves with the Hamer Standard (a take off on the Gibson Explorer) with higher quality pickups, electronics, and tuners than was seen on Gibson or Fender guitars at the time.

Hamer also constructed the world’s first twelve-string bass, which was used both live and in the studio by Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson. The bass is renowned for its thunderous tones and surprisingly ease of play (given that each it consists of four sets of three strings).

Other popular models include the Hamer Studio and Duotone. Recently, the company has begun offering quality import guitars known as the Hamer XT series, which have been well-received as quality guitars for the price.

Since their beginning and continuing until today, Hamer guitars has prided itself on its fit, finish, construction, and playability. They pay meticulous attention to the neck, body, and electronics to create a guitar that looks and sounds good and is easy to play.